Hearse



Nov. 23, 1948. w. H. PFEIFFER HEARSE Filed June ll, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

v WIW/10127# ID/swjffe( TTRNY Nov. 2 3, 1948. w. PFEIEFER HEARvSE I Filed June 11, 1945- 5 sheets-snaai 2 A TTO/PNE'YS Nov., 2,3, 1948. w. H. PFEIFFER HEARSE Filed June' 11, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i VV//J'Om @eff/fer INVENTOR.

A TTU/PNE V5.

Nov. 23, 1948. w. H.-PFE|FFER HEARSE INVENTOR. Pff/ffer 5 Sheets-Sheet v4,

Filed June 11, l9 45 Ar.. l. D 8

N'ov. 2.3, 1948.' w. H. PFEFFER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5y Fay. 8.

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Patented Nov. 23, 1948 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEARSE William H. Pfeier, Seattle, Wash.

Application Junell, 1945, Serial No. 598,715

12 Claims. 1.

The hearse, in its functional or utilitarian aspect, must be adapted for loadingor unloading to right or to left, rather than solely at the rear, for frequently it must draw alongside a curb. Caskets are always heavy, and may weigh as much as one thousand pounds, creating a real problem to pall-bearersin loading and unloading, the more so as their number islimted, and they are frequently not robust; the casket can only project partway` so long as it is supported Within or by the hearse; and an appearance of exertion in picking up or depositing the casket is deemed unseemly.

Side loading hearses have been known heretofore. In these the casket rests `on or above the floor, and the flooris elevated, primarily because only thus can the casket beiittingly displayed. vFor unloading, the casket andits supporting bier table slide outwardly, and in so doing are rotated through 90', to project the forward end laterally outwardly. Still, the casket is elevated as it was during transportation, and is diiiicult to `lift orslide and carry endwise soelevated until the projecting end of the bier table is cleared, and then `to lower to carrying position. Loading is even more difficult.

It is the primary aim of this invention to `provide a hearse which-is essentially side loading, which will support the `casket in normal elevated transporting position, but `which will permit lowering and outward swinging of the casket while still hearse-borne toa convenient carrying level and position iorthe pall-bearers on the sidewalk orl street, and which in loading will receive the casket at the lower level, and thereafter, by power means, will elevate the casket, swing it into 1ongitudinal transporting position, and close the side closure or window. Though shown and described as essentiallyside loading, it is obvious that the hearse may also have a rear door, and be operated as a rear-loading hearse if that be desired, though such operation may not utilize all the advantages ofside loading.

Likewise it is an aim to providev mechanism suited to the power available, which will not detract from the appearance of the vehicle, which is-quiet in operation, and whichV adequately meets all requirements, including those special requirements introduced by the novel. arrangement of the principal elements, including, for example, means to counteract the unbalanced-overhang or sag: of the outwardly swung bier table, tending to slope it downwardly andoutwardly.

Various mechanical aids have Vbeen incorporated in hearses, such as tracks to constrain the bier table to move into laterally projected position and to supportthe overhungl Weight when so projected; powerV means to effect such projection; anclchassis-leveling` devices to prevent the casket from rolling` endwise off an otherwise inclined, outwardly projected bier table. .All

such mechanical aids, including those introduced by this invention, must be thoroughly reliablein operation, so that no accident or failure interrupts the funeral ceremonies. They should'also be quiet in operation. Electrical operation hasr been employed, as has hydraulic means, such as `herein illustrated; the latter has sornevslight advantage in that it tends to be` quieter, but otherwise either such means has been found acceptable. The use of any such means, at will, is to be considered as within the broader aspects of this invention.

In a-somewhat more specific sense, among the objects of this invention are: provision of control means toveiect successive operations in a predetermined sequence and relation to other operations; to provide controls located conveniently to the driver, which has the further advantage that the casket and driver may be separatedv by a limousine-style glass partition; Yto arrange selective controls, cooperating with a sequence control, to govern right or left loading, and to regulate the extent of lowering of the biertable in accordance with variations in level between-the sidewalk and the street, or `for other reasons, to provide automatically operable closures forv the casket space, and for the notch into which the casket is lowered, which closures blend with or constitute elements in the exterior finish or decorative scheme of the hearse.

It will be'clear, from the above,that the invention comprises a novel hearse, a novel arrangement of the several primary elements thereof,

and a novel arrangement of a complete system` 'forl enablingthe transporting and unloading, or loading, of a casket inV a manner different from that possible with hearses of a construction now known. The invention also comprises certain novel elements of such a hearse. The nature and objects ofthe invention will appear more clearly as this description progresses, and from `th'e claims.4

The form- Y of construction illustrated in the drawings `is not necessarily, in its details, a preferred lform, but serves to illustrate, without undue complications, the principles of the invention. Such details, then, may be changed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Its scope will appear as this `'description progresses, and should be` limited `only to the extent indicated by the claims. l

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away, illustrating-` the hearse of this invention.

Figure 2 is ahorizontal sectional View, substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure' 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view, substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the bier Itable supporting Vand moving means, the vi-ew being taken substantially along thaline 4-4 of Figure 5, and Figure is `a longitudinal vertical section through tabasco the sequence valve employed in such a system, il-

lustrating the sequence of operation.

Figure 8 is .a development of the hollow cylindrical rotative valve core used in such a sequence valve, and Figure 9 is a corresponding development of the cooperating valve casing.

The hearse incorporates a chassis 9 supporting the body 99, with the glass partition 9| to divide the casket space 92 from the drivers space 93. The driver and his assistant occupy the sea-ts 913. The body may have a rear door, though none is shown in the drawing, but in any event is provided with side openings at right and left, admitting to the casket space 92, each of which is closed by a window or similar closure 8 which is suitably movable between open and closed positions. For example, it is hinged at its top to swing upwardly and outwardly, as will be later explained.

The floor 95 of the space 92 normally lies at a level such that the casket, supported indirectly thereupon, lies above the level of the wheel wells or rear fenders 96, whereby the casket is supported in View through the windows 8. Adjacent its forward portion, however, lthe oor 95 is notched, as indi-cated .at 97, to a materially lower level.

Supported within this notch is an elevator 3, which is guided for Vertical movement by upright posts 30, supported from the chassis 9. Vertical movement ofthe elevator 3, and Iits leveling, is accomplished by means of four multiple extension jacks 3|, supporting it from the chassis 9. It will be understood that the hydraulic jacks 3| constitute one means of raising and lowering the elevator, but that other equivalent means might be y.

substituted therefor, according to the broader phases of the invention.

Pivoted upon the elevator 3 is a 'bier table I. The pivot axis, indicated at I Il, is adjacent the forward end of the bier table, so that the bier table projects materially rearwardly from the pivot point I 0, as may best be seen in Figure 2. The bier table in a sense is a turn table, though not symmetrical, longitudinally, with respect to its axis of rotation. The bier table is provided with lthe usual devices to facilitate the handling land securing of the casket, as for instance the rollers II and the bier pins I2, and with suitable supporting bearings, not shown, between itself and the elevator 3.

Rotation of the bier table is accomplished by means such as a double-acting jack I3 which is supported from the elevator 3 and which is connected to the bier table I by such means as a rack I4, connected to move with the piston I of the table-turning jack, and meshing with a pinion IB fast upon the shaft I0, which in turn is connected to the bier table, and which is journaled at 32 in the elevator 3. Again, as was the case with the lifting jack 3|, the jack I3 and the associated table turning mechanism represents only a convenient mechanism for accomplishing this result, so far as concerns the broader phases ofthe invention.

In similar fashion, and as representative of various mechanism that might be-used, the windows 8 are arranged to lbe opened and closed by double-acting jacks 8| with their pistons 82. Each window is hinged at 80, just within and above the margin of the side aperture which the closure closes. The hinge mechanism 83 is such as to accomplish `the desire degree of swinging of the closure, and the piston 82 is connected by suitable means, such 4as 84, to effect swinging of the closure. One set of jacks 8| is provided for the right window and a similar set for the left window. rlhe windows might be opened by lengthwise accordion folding, vor in any lsuitable manner.

The hydraulic system for accomplishing Ithe several necessary operations in the proper sequence is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6. The sequence of operations is indicated by the end view of the sequence valve in Figure '7, and the valve ,itself and its cooperating valve casing are shown diagrammatically in ythe ldevelopments of Figures 8 and 9, respectively. The sequence valve is indicated generally by the numeral 2, and its casing by the numeral 20. The direction or side of the hearse toward which the operations occur is governed by the position of a right-orleft valve 4, and certain lowering operations are controlled by the valves 5R and 5L. The controls for these valves are located conveniently to the drivers.

Referring now to Figure 6, which shows the general diagram of the hydraulic system, and to Figures '7, 8, and 9 which illustrate details of the sequence valve, it may be seen that in general liquid is drawn from a reservoir 'I0 by way of a low pressure or suc-tion line 1| to the low pressure side of pump "I, and is delivered by way of a pressure line 'I2 to the sequence valve 2, or if the iluid may not pass the valve 2, then the uid is returned past the pressure-relief valve |3 and relief line 14 to the reservoir 10.

Disregarding for the moment the internal structure of the sequence valve 2, and referring simply to Figure '7 in conjunction with Figure 6, it may be seen that the pressure fluid enters the hollow interior of the rotatable valve core 2 of the sequence valve, which is normally in the locked position A. If, however, the valve is rotated in the direction of the arrow, shown in Figure '7, by means of the handle 2|, it arrives at position B (a spring ball click or similar device, not shown, accurately locates the valve in such position). Communication is thereby established between the interior of the valve 2, by means of the conduit 39, the right-or-left valve 4, and one or the other of the conduits 381| and 38B, and the master cylinders 31, with the jacks 3| at the left or right sides of the hearse. The purpose of this is to insure that there is adequate pressure in all the jacks 3, and that the weight of the bier table and casket is supported by these jacks 3|, rather than upon the floor 95.

The valve 2 is next rotated to position C. This retains the pressure fluid in the cylinders 3|, and admits pressure fluid by way of the conduit 89, and right-or-left valve 4, and thence by way of the conduit 88B. or 88L to the appropriate window jacks 8|, and at the same time a low pressure connection from the opposite end of the corresponding jack is established by way of the lines 8'IL and 81R past the right-or-left valve 4, and thence by way of the conduit 86 and an exterior groove of the valve 2, to a relief conduit 15. The window swings open.

The valve 2 is next rotated to position D. This retains the jacks 3| and 8|, previously connected with the pressure source, in their respective attained conditions, that is, with pressure admitted into the jacks 3| and with the closure 8 on the 'proper 'side' now swung open: pressure-fluid from the interior of the valve 2,

:antiguos It also admits byway of the conduits ISR. or ISL, and past the right-or-left valve 4, to one end orr the other of the` table rotating jack I3, by wayof the conduits `IBR and IBL. The opposite end of the same jaclrr at the same time is vented by` way ofthe -paired-set of conduits, and through exterior passages in; the valve 2 to the relief conduit 1E. This causes the bier table I, which becomes then avturnetable, to rotate to the proper sidethrough theclosure which was just opened by the raising of the appropriate window. The bier table is now. in the outswung position, shownby dash linesin Figure 2.

Thevalve 2 is next swung to position E, which locks all the jacks 3|, 8|, and I3 in their acquired status, and which causes the pressure fluid in the line I2 to take now the course 5IL or SIR or both to the extent that the valves 5L and 5R, respectively, may be opened. These valves are lowering valves and are normally closed. Their function is primarily to permit relief of pressure from the jacks 3|, by way of the master cylinders 3l' andlines 35B, or 3.5L, either back to the reservoir by way of the lines 5IL or SIR, or to the suction side of the pump -by Way of the lines 52B.

and 521i, respectively. By this means the fluid trapped in the jacks 3| may be bled out as slowly or as rapidly as may be desired to lower the elevator 3 to whatever level may be desired, and to maintain the outwardly swung bier table level while it is being lowered. To the latter end suction may bev applied on the side opposite that toward which the bier table projects, if necessary, and by appropriate manipulation of the valves 5R and 5L. When the bier table has been lowered to the appropriate extent, it will be in a loading position such as is shown in Figure 3,

`and at this level the casket may readily be en` gaged and lifted slightly by the pall-bearers standing on the curb or sidewalk.

In loadingfrom the position of Figure 3, after the casket has been placed on the outswung bier table the valve 2 is turned to position F, the valves 5L and 5R being in neutral position, and fluid is admitted past the valve 2 and by way of the conduit 39 and the two conduits 3BR and 381.. to the several jacks 3|. Again these jacks can be controlled to whatever extent may be necessary to keep the` bier table level, by the valves 5L and 5R. The jacks 3|, incidentally, are vented at their upper ends to permit such raising, and hence require no return line.

When the bier table and casket have been elevated, to a level somewhat above the floor 95, the valve 2 is turned to position G, which locks the jacks 3| in their raised position, and supplies or vents fluid, asl the case may be, through the conduits |9L.Yand IGR` to effect inward swinging of the bier table into its longitudinal transporting position, as shown `in Figure l, or in the upper position of Figure 3. This, ofcourse, is merely operation of the jack I3 reversely to that previously described.

When the bier table. is swung in, the sequence valveis turned to position H. In this position the jacks 3| and 8| are locked in their attained condition, and now fluid is supplied by way of the conduit 86, valve 4, and conduits 8'IR and 8`IL to the jacks 8| to operate them the reverse of that previously described, and thereby to swing closed that closure 8 which formerly was opened. This having been accomplished, it is only necessary to complete the rotation of` the valve 2to 6 its initial position A', where alljaclc'sareplocked in their respective attainedipositions. TheA bier table may beA lowered slightly;V in this position, to rest it more solidly upon. the floorr95; by.manipulationof ,the valves 5L' and: 5R while.' the valve 2 is in position A.

Incidentally, itmay'be seen inFigureB that accordion folds 98 are provided betweenzthe-.lateeral edges ofthe elevator 3' andlof the hearse body 9D; which in the upper `position of 4'theelevator will close thenotch 91 into whichthe elee vatorY drops and-which will blend with or form part of the decorative scheme ofthe hearseibody, but which willautoxnatically fold outwardlyas the elevator-fis lowered. Thev closures Sand any decorative molding about them, as viewed' in Figure 1, also constitute partk of the decorative scheme of the hearse body.

The right-or-left valve 4 is merely avalvecore having lands and shiftable to the end ofclosing one port-and openingfa companion port offra pair, the ports and lands being so arranged as to accomplish operation of the jacks lfor-right loading in one position, and the jacks for left loading in the other position. The valve is encased within a valvecasing 40 andis provided withv a handle 4-I by whichit may beturned. Its ro'- tation acts through apin 42 in aihelical slot 43 to shift the valve longitudinally; ahalfturn will effect movement between onef -positiony orthe other, whereby' its handle -4'I forms afconvenient indicator as to which side is ready for loading or unloading operation.` Any suitable construction to this end maybeemployed, inlieu off the construction shown.

It is believed that detailed studyof theivalve casing developments of Figures 8 and`i9'is scarcely necessary. In thecasing, Figure-9', the-ports have been givenl the numeral corresponding to the conduit which leads from such port; theport 39 is divided and communicates at two points 180 spaced from one another by way of theports 39a and 39D. Cooperating with this'shell is the hollow valve core 2, inwhich all through ports have Vbeen given the same numeral as the casing ports of Figure 9 with which theyl cooperate, with this suix` letter c. `The relief ports 89E, BBR, ISLT, and I9Rr are not through ports, but inclined grooves or channels in the outer face of the valve coreserving to eifect relief of the port of corresponding number. The valve and casing will be seen to operate in the sequence and to the end explained above, if, for example, a tracing of either the casing or the shell is overlaid over 'and movedwith respect tothe other, in the sequence indicated by the several letters which correspond to the positions of Figure 7. Furthermore, it should be borne in mind thatthe valve itself is simply one means of accomplishing the vend in view, in proper sequence, and that any other `means capable of accomplishing this end may be employed. Even more, it should be remembered that the .hydraulic system was chosen simply because it may be somewhat quieter,Y inoperation than an electric system, but that an electric system may be employed, if desired, in substitution for the hydraulic system, and such a modified system would still be within the -broader aspects of my invention, as defined in the claims.A

Iclaim as my invention:

l. A hearse comprising aA bier table, means supporting the same for pivotal movement about a xed vertical axis from an upraised lengthwise transporting position intoan outwardly swung position, and from such upraised to a lowered unloading position, and control means prohibiting lowering movement until completion of the outlswinging movement, and reversely, prohibiting inswinging movement until completion of the raising movement.

2. A hearse comprising a bier table, means supporting the same for angular, generally horizontal movement from an upraised lengthwise transporting position to an outwardly swung position, and from such upraised to a lowered unloading position, but restraining the same from bodily lengthwise movement, and control means prohibiting lowering movement until completion of the outswinging movement, and reversely, pro- ,hibiting inswinging movement until completion ofthe raising movement.

3. A hearse comprising a bier table, a oor above which said bier table may be disposed in a lengthwise transporting position, and having a transverse notch of a width exceeding the width of the bier table, and means supporting and guiding the bier table for movement generally horizontally from said transporting position into an outwardly swung and lowered unloading position, wherein the bier table is between the edges of said notch and below the floor level, and for reverse movement.

4. A hearse comprising a bier table, a floor above which said bier table may be disposed in a lengthwise transporting position, and having a transverse notch ofv a width less than the length, but greater than the width, of the bier table, an elevator disposed in said notch, whereon the bier table is pivoted to swing horizontally, and means l to swing the bier table from transporting position to an outwardly swung position, and to lower the elevator and outwardly swung bier table into the notch to an unloading position, and vice versa.

5. A hearse comprising a bier table, an enclosure about said bier table, including a floor above which said biertable may be disposed in a lengthwise transporting position, said floor -having a transverse notch of a width less than the length, but greater than the width, of the bier table, a closure constituting a side of said enclosure, and movable between open and closed positions, an elevator disposed in the floors notch, whereon the bier table is pivoted to swing horizontally through the side, when said closure is in open position, and means to move said closure to open position, to swing the hier table outwardly, and to lower the bier table into the notch to an unloading position, and vice versa.

6. A hearse comprising a bier table, an enclosure therefor, means supporting and guiding said bier table for outward swinging from a lengthwise enclosed transporting position into a projected position, a closure openable to permit such swinging, means to lower such outwardly swung bier table to an unloading position, and

control means constraining energization of the preceding means to eiTect in sequence, first, opening of the closure, second, outward swinging of `the bier table, and third, lowering of the bier table.

7. A hearse comprising a bier table, an enclosure therefor, having openable right and left Vpreceding means to operation, in sequence, of a Cir 8 closure to open, of the bier table, to swing outwardly, and nally to lower, and means to predetermine the side towards which such movement occurs.

8. A hearse comprising a bier table, means supporting and guiding the same for angular movement between a lengthwise transporting position and a position outwardly swung at one side, and then for movement into a lowered unloading position, means constraining said preceding means to movement of the bier table, in such sequence, and in the reverse sequence, and means to control the degree of lowering of the bier table.

9. A hearse comprising an elevator; a bier table pivoted by a vertical axis located near one end of the bier table, upon said elevator; lifting jacks operatively connected to raise and lower said elevator; a turning jack upon the elevator operatively connected to rotate said bier table from an elevated lengthwise transporting position to an outwardly swung position; and means to energize said jacks, in sequence, to effect outward swinging of the bier table and then lowering of the elevator and the outwardly swung bier table into an unloading position, and, thereafter, reverse operation.

19. A hearse as in claim 9, wherein the jacks are hydraulically operated, and the jack-energizing means includes a sequence valve and a lowering valve.

11. A hearse comprising an enclosure having an openable side closure; an elevator within said enclosure; a bier table pivoted upon said elevator to swing about a vertical axis located near one end of the bier table; a jack operatively connected to open said closure; lifting jacks operatively connected to lower and raise said elevator; a turning jack upon the elevator operatively connected to rotate said bier table from an elevated lengthwise transporting position to an outwardly swung position; governing means for energizing said jacks in the sequence indicated; and further means to control the extent of lowering of the elevator and outwardly swung bier table, into unloading position.

12. A hearse as in claim 11 wherein the bier table may swing to right or to left, and the enclosure has two openable closures, a right and a left, and 'including further reversible means to predetermine the energization of jacks for right or for left unloading or loading.

WTLLIAM H. PFEIFFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,710 Richter et al Apr. 26, 1938 489,003 Heidelberg Jan. 3, 1893 621,051 Fest Mar. 14, 1899 650,748 Blaisdell May 29, 1900 1,072,864 Marvin Sept. 9, 1913 1,242,221 Madison, Jr Oct. 9, 1917 1,893,739 Harris Jan. 10, 1933 1,925,964 Koppe Sept. 5, 1933 1,968,205 Heise July 31, 1934 1,968,206 Heise July 31, 1934 2,148,504 Richter Feb. 28, 1939 2,229,483 Touimin, Jr. Jan. 21, v1941 2,265,434 Kibbey Dec. 9, 1941 2,284,187 Crosby et al May 26, 1942 2,410,373 Westervelt, Jr Oct. 29, 1946 

